Public Letter for disclosure/publishing – March 1, 2026
Dear Members of the Board of Supervisors, Sheriff LaRue, and Concerned Officials:
I am writing as a resident and advocate for wildfire prevention in Siskiyou County CA to bring attention to a critical public health crisis linked to our current wildfire management practices.
While local economies may temporarily benefit from the influx of firefighters and responders filling hotels and restaurants during wildfire events—a form of ‘monetizing’ wildfires—this short-term gain comes at an unacceptable long-term cost: the premature deaths of dozens of our citizens from toxic wildfire smoke every year. Unless we pivot to proactive strategies that reduce wildfire frequency and intensity, we are complicit in preventable harm.
Recent peer-reviewed science underscores the deadly toll of wildfire smoke. A *UCLA study estimates that wildfire smoke exposure caused up to 55,700 premature deaths in California over an 11-year period, equating to approximately 5,000 deaths annually. As a mathematical function of this statewide figure—factoring in Siskiyou County’s population (~43,000, or about 0.1% of California’s 39 million residents) and its disproportionate exposure to wildfires in rural, forested areas—dozens of local citizens are projected to die prematurely this year alone from smoke-related health impacts. These deaths stem from novel toxins (e.g., volatile organic compounds or VOCs) formed in super-hot megafires, as detailed in studies from the **American Chemical Society (ACS), which highlight how urban-proximate wildfires generate persistent, highly toxic contaminants that infiltrate indoor environments and cause long-term respiratory and cardiovascular harm.Siskiyou County’s Board of Supervisors has a sworn duty under California law (including Health and Safety Code § 101025, which requires the board to take necessary measures to preserve and protect public health) to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens. Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue has a similar duty (including Government Code § 26600, which mandates the sheriff to preserve peace and protect public safety). This includes implementing all feasible actions to mitigate known risks like wildfire smoke. Continuing to rely on reactive management that inadvertently monetizes fires—rather than prioritizing prevention—violates this duty and exposes residents to unnecessary peril.
I urge you to adopt proven, nature-based solutions, such as rewilding native American wild horses as keystone herbivores in appropriate vacant remote wilderness locations to reduce fine wildfire fuels on public-owned lands. This approach, supported by my extensive research and the Wild Horse Fire Brigade plan, aligns with scientific evidence and could dramatically lower wildfire risks in our county, and beyond.Billionaire radio host John Catsimatidis is good friends with President Donald Trump and DOI Sec. Doug Burgum. John doesn’t give just anyone 6 minutes on his show. Getting even 1 minute is nearly impossible — yet I just landed a full 6-minute spotlight on “Cats Roundtable” (WABC New York). That’s not luck; that’s recognition of real, game-changing ideas! https://wabcradio.com/
Please convene an emergency meeting to review these studies and commit to immediate preventive measures. The lives of our neighbors depend on it. I am available to provide further details or testify at your convenience.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this life-or-death matter.
*UCLA STUDY (CA specific):
**ACS STUDY (toxin specific):
Insurance Industry (AM BEST) Video:
Sincerely,
William E. Simpson II
Founder & Executive Director, Wild Horse Fire Brigade
Wild Horse Ranch
P.O. Box 202 -Yreka, California 96097
